Excerpts from the Writings of Jeff Cooper. June 2026
Here at the turn of the 21st century, it is apparent that recreational rifle shooting has taken on several different aspects. The formal target shot tends to scorn the field shot, and neither of those individuals is much interested in snap shooting, which is certainly a game of its own. I do not have a good understanding of the problems of the Pennsylvania deer hunter, but I gather that they are not the same as those of the Rocky Mountain sheep hunter, and neither of those has much to do with the military carbine shooter.
All these activities are entertaining and may be pursued for their own sakes, but nobody should look down on Game 1 simply because he prefers Game 4 or Game 2. Personally I have spent the last couple of years skimming the African bushveldt, and this is a good game, but old age has pretty much caught up with me by now and I must derive what pleasure I can from spectating.
All great fun, and the more people we can introduce to the various rifle games, the better off we all will be. Demand for rifle instruction seems to have diminished to some extent here in the Lower 48, but there is much activity in Alaska and plenty of action in Texas.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.13, No.6 June 2005
Now it appears that some curious group in England has decided that too many people are getting stabbed, and that therefore long, pointy kitchen knives should be banned. Apparently they think that kitchen knives with blunt points would lessen the incidents of stabbing. Hoplophobes being what they are, it does not occur to them that they might reduce their problems by making armed assault illegal. Of course if they did that, they would find it necessary to do something about unarmed assault, and presently we would be called upon to eradicate boxing, wrestling and kendo.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.13, No.6 June 2005
Tax remission for Medal of Honor winners is such a marvelous idea that I cannot understand why I have not been able to scrape up much response from my various legislative representatives. Certainly any man who has been awarded the Medal of Honor should no longer be pestered by the tax man, and the drain upon the budget would be almost inconsiderable. If you agree with me that this is a good idea, please drop a line to your man in Washington.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.8, No.13 June 2005
In long arms we are so used to the bolt-action and the self-loader that we sometimes forget the merits of the lever-action. Speed of the second shot is often overemphasized, as we have suggested, but there are certain safety considerations which should not be overlooked. Specifically the lever-gun may be properly carried in Condition 3 when action is imminent. In this condition there is no shell in the chamber, but the weapon is loaded and cocked as it is mounted into the shoulder. If you have a lever-gun, it is a good idea to practice this. Stand ready with butt on the hip, eyes on the target, trigger finger straight, and shooting fingers (less the trigger finger) inside the lever. When taking the shot, the shooting hand is snapped downward until the action is open. Then as the butt is mounted into the shoulder the action is closed, the eye finds the target, and the finger finds the trigger. When I was teaching we used to try this on flying clays starting with chamber empty. It is surprising how simple and easy this drill can be when it is practiced properly. Among other things, it obviates the use of the mechanical safety, which I think is probably a good thing. I read far too much material from Africa which places an almost religious confidence in the manual safety. The manual safety device may serve a useful purpose, but it does not make the gun safe. Only the trigger finger can make the gun safe, and then only by what goes on between the ears.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.8, No. 13 November 2005
We are steadily asked about the age at which to teach young people to shoot. The answer to this obviously depends upon the particular individual; not only his physical maturity but his desire. Apart from these considerations, however, I think it important to understand that it is the duty of the father to teach the son to shoot. Before the young man leaves home, there are certain things he should know and certain skills he should acquire, apart from any state-sponsored activity. Certainly the youngster should be taught to swim, strongly and safely, at distance. And young people of either sex should be taught to drive a motor vehicle, and if at all possible, how to fly a light airplane. I believe a youngster should be taught the rudiments of hand-to-hand combat, unarmed, together with basic survival skills. The list is long, but it is a parent’s duty to make sure that the child does not go forth into the world helpless in the face of its perils. Shooting, of course, is our business, and shooting should not be left up to the state.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.6, No.13 June 2005
Range safety results directly from range discipline, and range discipline is a distinct element of military discipline. It is glaringly evident to those who conduct firearms training on both sides of the military/civilian training effort, to observe how much faster and easier it is to get things done with a properly disciplined group. Civilians simply stand around too much, and they are continuously caught unready for whatever it is they are expected to do. I have heard it said that recruits in the UK are abjectly opposed to “being yelled at.” Well it is not always necessary to yell at recruits, but sometimes it helps. Young people who are exposed to no discipline at home, involving chores such as housework, yard work and motor maintenance, are all too frequently incapable of coping in any organizational sense. I have always been great for individualism, but the individual does better when he is comfortably acquainted with social discipline.
I dare say I should specifically use the “he or she” speech pattern here, but it does seem that girls take better to discipline than boys. We have successfully raised three girls without any trace of disciplinary problems. Voices were never raised and blows were never struck. It has been suggested that boys are just basically harder to straighten out than girls, and this may be true, but regardless of gender, discipline is not only necessary on the range, but everywhere else in life.
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries Vol.6, No.13 June 2005